Tony Noms for Broadway’s Best Leads in a Musical

June 6, 2012

Both leads in Once are nominated for Tonys.

In this blog, All Tickets Inc. is considering those who are nominated for Best Lead in a Musical. This is an interesting one since in the categories of actor and actress Follies leads the way with three nominees, while Once and The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess have managed to get two each. Here’s a quick rundown on this year’s nominees for Best Performance by an Actor/Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical.

The Musical Men

Go figure that Follies would have two men nominated in the same category! Will they cancel one another out? The nominees for Follies are Danny Burstein (Buddy Plummer) and Ron Raines (Benjamin Stone). Neither has won a Tony before but their resumes are longer than Lucky’s speech in Waiting for Godot. Burstein has been nominated twice before for the Tony and Raines has three Emmy noms.
Jeremy Jordan, who’s Broadway credits include Rock of Ages, West Side Story and Bonnie and Clyde,

Norm Lewis is exceptional as Porgy.

received the nod for Newsies. Jordan, who got rave reviews, plays Jack Kelly and makes the role his own. Norm Lewis, who’s been in a host of Broadway shows, has been nominated for his rendition of Porgy in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. He offers an amazingly powerful performance.

Speaking of powerful performances, there is Steve Kazee as Guy in the very popular musical Once. Once, which has 11 nominations, is one of Broadway’s biggest hits this season. Kazee has created a character who is dealing with emotional distress of the first order and finds redemption through music and love.

I’m thinking it’s between Lewis and Kazee. What do you think?

The Musical Women

Actresses who are nominated for lead roles in musicals include Jan Maxwell in Follies, Laura Osnes in Bonnie and Clyde and Kelli O’Hara in Nice Work If You Can Get It. Maxwell, who played Phyllis Rogers Stone, has been nominated for numerous Tonys and has won the Drama Desk. Maxwell relished the role of Phyllis and won plaudits.

Laura Osnes in Bonnie and Clyde is nominated.

Laura Osnes, who played Bonnie in Bonnie and Clyde, is just 25 years old but in her third Broadway show. She appeared as Hope in Anything Goes and she replaced fellow Tony nominee Kelli O’Hara as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific. The talented Kelli O’Hara, who is much in demand these days and has garnered her fourth Tony nom, offers a winning performance in the upbeat comedy Nice Work If You Can Get It.

Despite the fact that all three women have put in top performances, I feel that it comes down to Audra McDonald as Bess in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess and Cristin Milioti as Girl in Once. McDonald has four Tonys and three more nominations. She’s magnificent as Bess. Milioti, who is in a breakthrough role, has been in two other Broadway shows.

Audra McDonald may be in line for yet another Tony.

Interesting that The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess has 10 noms to 11 for Once. I believe this one goes to McDonald as she takes home her fifth Tony.

Who Do You Think Will Win?

Sure, I’m going out on a limb by picking the Tonys. Maybe you want to do the same. Feel free to offer your own take on the Tonys. Late in the week, I’ll offer an entire list of picks. I feel this category is especially exciting and unpredictable.

As the Tonys draw near and the new Broadway season appears on the horizon, be sure to contact All Tickets Inc. for great group seats at low prices. Plus, All Tickets offers THE TOTAL NEW YORK EXPERIENCE, which means we can also connect you with discounts for restaurants, tours, hotels and attractions. Contact us on the web or call ATI at 800-922-0716.